Description

Come celebrate the opening screening of Divine Divas with us at the Divine Divas Cocktail Party on April 16 at 5:00pm at Sushi Tango. Join us for complimentary appetizers and Happy Hour pricing for food and drinks. Surprise guest appearance!

Director Leandra Leal brings an affectionate eye to this documentary feature about the history of Rio de Janeiro’s brilliant cross-dressing community who refer to themselves as divas. Leal, whose grandfather ran the Teatro Rival years ago, has heard stories and knew many of the iconic divas as a child, watching from the wings. When her grandfather died, his daughter, Angela (the director’s mother), took over in the 1970s, working closely with the divas to help make the Rival a home for their incredible performances, which challenged the country’s strict social mores in the 1970s. Divine Divas follows many of the great performers she knew as a child, who reunite to help celebrate the Rival’s 70th anniversary celebration. Leal has crafted a compelling film that is at once compassionate, endearing, and thoroughly entertaining. As one of the divas proclaims, “Art is too divine to be normal!”

Director’s Biography

Leandra Leal has been acting since a young age, but came to worldwide attention at age 13 with The Oyster and the Wind, for which she won the best actress award at the Biarritz Film Festival in 1997. She was born and raised in Rio di Janeiro. Divine Divas is her debut as a director.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund, and a grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation.